| Bedford Road to Santiago Peak Trail |
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| Bedford Road to Santiago Peak   | 
| Location: California, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 33.71060°N / 117.5342°W Trail Type: Cross Country County: Orange Technical Difficulty: Easy Aerobic Difficulty: Very difficult Layout: Out & Back Elevation Gain: 5000 ft / 1524 m Length: 30.0 Mi / 48.3 Km
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| Page By: theronmoon Created/Edited: Oct 18, 2007 / Oct 18, 2007 Object ID: 262708 Hits: 599 Loading... Page Score: 87.34% - 4 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview
Bedford Road is a good condition fireroad that starts in Corona and ascends the central northern flanks of the Santa Ana Mountains. It provides closer access to Santiago Peak for residents of the Inland Valley Empire. Along it's winding route are Modjeska Peak and Bald Peak. Santiago Peak stands at 5687 feet and is the highest peak in Orange County. The route is a long sunny fireroad all the way to the summit. Watch out especially for dirt bikes as there are many blind corners. The Bedford and Main Divide Roads are full of turnouts, so to shorten the ride it would be easy to do. Just park along the road and place your adventure pass in the windshield.
Trail Description Ride on Bedford Road until you'll pass through a new housing developement and golf course. After about 2 miles you'll pass a gate with a sign reading 4S03, this is Bedford Road. At a little over 6 miles from the start of the Bedford Road you will reach the Main Divide Road. Turn left and continue for a little over a mile. At this point the Main Divide Road makes a 90 degree turn to the south, the peak overlooking this turn is Bald Peak. Bald Peak is a short scramble from the turnout if you are interested.
From Bald Peak continue south along the Main Divide Road for about 2.5 miles where you will reach a junction with Maple Springs Road. Keep to the left and continue 1.75 miles to you reach a turnoff on the left that leads up to the summmit of Modjeska. The road to the summit area is quite rugged and overgrown. It is about 1.5 miles round trip on road and use trail to the summit. Modjeska is a must more natural and pleasant summit in comparison with the tower covered summit of Santiago Peak.
From the summit of Modjeska Peak head back down to the turn-off. From the turnoff it is about 3 miles to the summit of Santiago via the Main Divide Road. A parking area is on the summit of Santiago. It is just short of the true highpoint. The highpoint is at the south end of the tower complexes. Look for a large tower, there is many up there. A little rock outcrop is just south of the tower. Survey markers, a register, and old fire lookout mounts are to be found on this outcrop.
For Santiago Peak alone the roundtrip would be atleast 29 miles with around +5000 feet of gain. Add in Modjeska Peak and it would be atleast 30.5 miles and +5500 of gain. Getting ThereTake I-15 to the city of Corona and exit at Weirick Road. Turn right at the end of the off ramp and turn left onto Knabe Road. Drive about a 1/2 mile where on your right you'll see a truck yard. Just north of this fenced in yard you'll see a narrow road. You'll see a sign that says Bedford Motorway, turn right here.
When to BikeThis route is best ridden during the cooler months of the year for the sun exposure is pretty intense.
For current conditions Cleveland National Forest.
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